Chapter 30
For Kimball N’Buta to have expected the Secondary Clans to simply sit, watch and wait was naive, and points to the volume of the responsibilities the ilKhan had taken on. Though the Clan Watch noted troop movements in many Clans, no alarm bells were rung; Clans moved troops all the time. However, the Watch continued to show its lack of skills in not seeing the many threats emerging, as non-invading Clans did all they could to ensure they would not be left behind once the invasion commenced.- Deciphering the Zoo: Understanding Clan Society. General Madison Perez, Hegemony Press, 3035.
CSF Nagasawa, New Sierra, Deep Periphery
11 November, 3034Selim Nagasawa smiled inwardly as the faces of the Khans he had invited to this meeting appeared in the screen before him. This meeting was to be taken ‘behind closed doors’, with Khans and saKhans joining discreetly. Before him on the screen were the leaders of Clans Goliath Scorpion, Hell’s Horses, and Snow Raven. Three Clans that the Horses had or could work effectively with. Each with a need, much like his own Clan, and that need was underpinned by a common issue: the invading Clans. Should Clans like those assembled here do nothing, they would be left behind and become secondary powers, and none wished for that fate. All here also recognised Clan space for the small pond it truly was, and each wanted to reach further and for more, rather than fight over limited resources for diminishing returns. Each one also recognised the folly of being in the leading wave of the assaults into the Inner Sphere. That is what made the four Clans a power to be reckoned with. The Foxes were economically strong, the Ravens the preeminent naval power in the Clans, the Horses had the largest force remaining in the Homeworlds, and the Scorpions had raw ambition. There was also one advantage the four Clans had that the invaders did not: a desire to work together for the common good.
“Thank you for joining me my friends. It has been five years since my Clan first conceived of this plan, but its true fruition comes through your willingness to join us. Clan Sea Fox could have attempted this on our own, with a high degree of risk from our target and the other Clans. Through sharing both the burden and benefits, we fell that the likelihood of success is orders of magnitude higher.”
“It is our pleasure Selim; the invaders cannot be allowed to simply grow and leave the rest of us behind. We must all take action to secure the future of our Clans.” Khan Johannes Fletcher, the new Horse Khan, had been quick to see the benefits of the Sea Fox plan, and where his predecessor Malavai Fletcher had prevaricated on whether to join or not, Johannes had taken little convincing.
“Indeed, this venture speaks not only of foresight, but to your own Clan’s willingness to do right by others. Long did the Wolf promise and never deliver, the Fox has delivered without promise. You have our friendship and our trust.” Sandra Moreau spoke reverently, and Selim was glad she was here. The Scorpions were an untapped resource, and Nagasawa was interested to see what they could become, both as a Clan and as an ally.
“I appreciate your words my friends, but one issue stands above all others. We, our saKhans and Loremasters are here in the Inner Sphere, and we must appoint commanders to see our efforts through and determine how to coordinate our forces.”
“That may depend on the force that we are each dispatching.” Said the Raven.
“We may not need a joint command.” Said Johannes. “We will be striking at separate targets, and apart from the journey, will be operating separately. A joint route, like that to the Inner Sphere, might eventually be useful to us, but for now, it might be better to simply appoint the commanders and issue a strategic plan they are to adhere to. This way we enable our commanders to operate as needed, while ensuring that they cannot cross certain lines.”
“That could be workable. I could agree to such an arrangement.” Ayren McKenna looked like she would say more but shook her head and stayed silent.
“That being said, we can determine a plan between us here easily enough, and Selim has promised another update to our earlier discussions for review. What force would each of us be dispatching? I can free up ten Clusters and five WarShips.” Moreau said with a grimace. That was a large part of the Scorpion Touman. “I am planning on acquiring additional assets that will partly offset this commitment.”
“We can match the Scorpion’s ground forces, but we have only a single WarShip to send. It will be a
Potemkin however, which should assist in the journey.” The Horse Khan spoke quietly.
“We can dispatch two naval Stars of older ships. Jamie, what of our ground forces?” Ayren asked her saKhan.
“No more than five Clusters. We can spare no more.”
Selim looked into the camera as he spoke. “We will be taking a different path. Our Clusters have always been overlarge, and we intend to pare them down to create ten new Clusters for this mission and assign two of our Splendid-class cruisers as well. There are many who would prey on our rich holdings if we simply sent whole Clusters from their known posts. This way, we protect our home systems, as well as sending an appropriate force.”
“A wise move Khan Nagasawa.” Said Ayren. “Have you a new proposal for the division of spoils? The last was not suitable.”
“I do.” He pressed a button and data leapt up on all their screens.
“That is far more agreeable.” Ayren said.
“
Aff, most appropriate.” Said the Horse Khan.
“Bargained well and done!” Said Moreau.
On the screens before them were the list of targets for each Clan, which read:
Clan Goliath Scorpion: Navarre, Cordoba, Galicia, Valencia, Leon, Aragon, Castile
Clan Hell's Horses: Hamburg, Danzig, Braunschweig, Antwerp, Dorpat, Bruges, Kalmar, Falsterebo
Clan Sea Fox: Visby, Anklan, Elbing, Kampen, Konigsberg, Novgorod, Wismar, Stettin
Clan Snow Raven: Gateway, Thorn, Lym, Koln, Greifswald, Stralsund, Goslar, Dotmund, Bergen
Kurim, Strana Mechty, Kerensky Cluster
25 November, 3034Kurim was not an attractive settlement, it was convenient. The town was little more than a mining town that worked hard and did little else. There was nothing to relieve the dull buildings, mining pits and masses of heavy machinery, the dust or the monotony that was life for the civilian Laborers and Technicians that made up the vast majority of its population. The advantage it did have is that Kurim sat just fifteen hundred meters from the border between the between the Fire Mandrill and Blood Spirit enclaves. Nowhere else in Clan space did the two Clans share a border or a system, which made arranging this quiet meeting between the two allies difficult, but not impossible.
Blood Spirit Warriors had taken over a floor on one of the town’s administration buildings, and then welcomed a standard wheeled ground car that showed it had once belonged to Kindraa Matilla-Carrol, though that faction was long since buried under the results of the Mandrill civil war and reunification.
Only a single Mandrill arrived, but Galaxy Commander Ester Bin was the recently promoted commander of the Mandrill’s Alpha Galaxy, and ovKhan of their Homeworlds while the Khans and Loremaster were in the Inner Sphere. Bin was tall, cream skinned with luminous, dark brown eyes, very thin lips and a rounded jaw, and fine, black hair, with multiple tattoos on her neck. She was meeting with her equal from Clan Blood Spirit, Galaxy Commander Zahid Johns. Johns was a short fair skinned man with piercing, brown eyes, smooth cheeks, tapered eyebrows and a long face. He had straight, brown hair layered with gold dye, had faint freckles, and numerous piercings.
“It is good to see you, Ester.” Zahid welcomed the Mandrill warmly into the plain office, that due to the charts and desks, looked to be used by engineers. “Our time has come at last.”
“It has Zahid, and it is high time the Burrocks and Mongooses learned their lesson. Their fall will be spectacular.”
“It will be indeed.” Zahid offered the Mandrill a glass of dark looking liquid. “And we should toast to our plans. First the fall of Clan Burrock, and then we deal with the Mongooses.”
Glasses clinked and both drank deeply.
Ester held her glass up to the light, “This is good.”
“We took it from the Coyotes a month ago. Such spoils always taste better.”
“The do indeed. Are your forces ready?”
“They are. We have fifteen Clusters from York and Arcadia ready to hit the Burrocks on Marshall, Priori, and Tathis.”
“And we have a reenforced Galaxy that will cross into Burrock territory on Dagda to pin their reserves there. Once you finish your other campaigns, we will be glad to see you on Dagda. Once we complete fighting there, all that will remain to them are minor holdings and York. They will be finished as a power.”
“Long live our alliance!” Said Zahid, lifting his glass again.
“
Aff! Long live Clans Fire Mandrill and Blood Spirit!”
Liberty City, Libertia, Exeter Cluster
25 November, 3034“Khan Hollis has approved our assault plan. I was surprised he accepted it; the plan is nothing if not ambitious.” Galaxy Commander Juanma Yang looked to the three other Mongoose Galaxy Commanders who would help see the plan through. Danial Carranza, Laura Lazuk, and Erlingr Blevins had all worked hard alongside Young to bring the plan together, and it was designed to cripple a target that could be crushed swiftly.
Also in the room were the twelve Star Colonels who would lead the Clusters in the coming campaign, and it was to them he addressed his statement. His voice echoed in the large auditorium, which was mostly empty.
“Clan Ice Hellion is the weakest Clan, at least militarily, in the Homeworlds, but they still control extensive territory and industry. Our Watch analysts have identified that the Hellions are the ideal Clan to cut out of the pack and prey upon.” Young knew that if the campaign ahead was even moderately successful, it would result in the absorption of a large part of that Clan by the Mongooses.
“Two Mongoose Galaxies will first strike at two separate Hellion worlds in the Exeter Cluster. Alpha and Gamma Galaxies will hit Zara, and Zeta and Omicron will attack the lesser prize of Daniels. Should Zara prove difficult, forces from Daniels will reenforce. This will secure further territory for Clan Mongoose in the Exeter Cluster and remove Hellion influence in the region. This campaign could take up to a year, but we estimate that six months is more accurate.”
“New troops will move to both worlds to protect them, while the four Galaxies then mount a direct assault on Hellion holdings in the Kerensky Cluster. There they will strike first a Forster and its Mech facility, before attacking the Hellion capital itself. Forster should fall quickly, and at that point, the Hellion Touman should have been reduced by a dozen Clusters. We can then choose to either follow through with the strike on Hector or take what we want more broadly from the Hellions across the Kerensky Cluster. However, due to what occurred when we spread ourselves across multiple targets in the 2860’s, I believe we should mount a direct assault on Hector, where the correlation of forces would still be in our favour.”
“We must remember that this campaign will take time, and effort and outside factors will influence it. We must be diligent in applying the plan but not ride the plan into the ground. Even if the worst happens, Magellan will be ready by the end of 3037, and at that point, we will be unstoppable. One in the Clan, one of the Plan.”
“One in the Clan, one of the Plan!” The other Mongooses in the room said.
San Mateo, Tamaron, Kerensky Cluster
25 November, 3034Borrowing from Clan Wolverine was not something the Coyotes often did, but Theudofrid Kerensky was not going to pass up the rank of gaKhan, which made him the senior Coyote officer in the Homeworlds. It also ensured that it would be him, and not the Khans, who lead the initiation of the Reconquista. Once his Clan had held territory on over twenty worlds but now held only a fraction of that. The time had come to alter that reality and begin to rebuild the Coyote empire in Clan space.
gaKhan Kerensky had a formidable force at his disposal, fourteen Clusters in all, and he had two key missions. The first was simple, to destroy the Nova Cats attempt to build a new caste, the mystics, on Daniels. That would be the icing on the cake. The main mission was to break Clan Fire Mandrill and take advantage of any other chaos that might break out. Thirteen Clusters were tagged for assaulting the Mandrill enclaves on Atreus, Daniels and Marshall. These were not the richest of targets, but they would be a start and taking them and mauling the Mandrill forces on those worlds would put that Clan in its place.
After that, they sky really was the limit, and Kerensky had his eyes firmly on a Khanship, something that would be more likely with the Khans doing little in the Inner Sphere while he reaped glory across the Homeworlds.
The Kerensky House needed the victories too. Ulric was doing little in Clan Wolf, and the rest of the combined House was fretting, making little in the way of progress in actual concrete actions that would limit the appeal or reach of the travesty that was the Amanda clone.
Head of the combined Bloodhouse and Khan of a rebuilt Clan Coyote would be a just and fitting reward for his efforts, and once the Mandrills were hammered back into obscurity, there were several other non-invading Clans that had done the Coyotes harm, the Cobras and Hellions foremost among those. Either would be a suitable second target, and another step on the way to dominating Clan space.
CB Absolute Truth, New Sierra, Deep Periphery
9 December, 3034Danielle Raiz thoroughly enjoyed working the Daron Polczyk, as the Burrock was eminently practical, and far less proper than her own Khan. She liked Khan di Martino, but the man was Machiavellian, even by Cobra standards. Raiz was a war leader more than a politician, and the task before her was eminently suited to her skills. The two Khans were sitting alone on the observation deck of the Burrock WarShip. The view of the station and the depths of space were spectacular, but the two Khans had other matters on their mind.
“We have the worlds we need?” She said.
“Yes, the Widowmakers gave us the best of the options. They will be well out of the way on Taumaturgo, while we move from Bossangoa and Alktral. I am still stunned so few see this opportunity.” Polczyk shook his head.
“There is much opportunity in the worlds the invaders have looked past, making no claim on them at all. Nearly every one of those worlds is in a starting position superior to anything that was opened up in the Kerensky Cluster.”
“Yes, and we will have them as our own very quickly.”
“Only in we combine our forces.” Riaz said.
“I agree. Do you have any thoughts on that?”
“I do. With our two Clusters and what we carry on the two WarShips, I suggest we create four Burrock-Cobra Irregular Clusters, giving us a full Galaxy and two powerful battleships to support them. Each would have two Mech Trinaries, a Supernova Trinary and two fighter Trinaries. They would be very effective formations, and after we hit Ceiba, Feijo, Linden and Quines we may find that we can split them into smaller formations, to take more territory quickly.” Danielle read the numbers of the slate she had before her.
“That I can work with. I think we will split them, but your caution for the first attacks is well warranted. We need to make a statement.”
“And such a statement it will be. At least twenty worlds, especially if we both trade our two later worlds for systems the Vipers bled for, and there are more opportunities in the Wolf corridor. We could control forty worlds between us if all goes our way.”
“That will require significant PGC’s to come forward from the Homeworlds, and at least another Galaxy each.”
“True, we can begin moving forces as soon as the invasion begins. We may not control the same number of valuable systems as the other invaders, but that much territory will make us a force to be reckoned with.”
“It will, and the Burrock-Cobra Khanate will dominate the route back to Clan space. Many will seek our favour.”
Chapter 31That the Clans managed, after three years of debate and effort, to reach the edge of the Inner Sphere and launch the invasion must be recognised as the extraordinary feat that it is. Though there were many issues remaining and significant gaps in much of the planning, that ilKhan N’Buta managed to keep so many Clans pointed in the one general direction for so long is a testament to his skills and foresight.- Deciphering the Zoo: Understanding Clan Society. General Madison Perez, Hegemony Press, 3035.
SLS Raven’s Gift, Gamlestolen, Deep Periphery
31 December, 3035Amanda stood quietly next to Star Commodore Noa Min-Jae, a Warrior who she had come to respect and admire. The former Burrock naval officer was now intimately familiar with her ship and had drilled her crew incessantly since taking command before they left Strana Mechty. The
Gift was now a well-honed machine, and it stood ready to make its first jump into the Inner Sphere. The WarShip sat ready as part of the fleet of vessels, mostly Jade Falcon, that were about to strike the major blow of that Clan’s first wave of the assault on Anjin Muerto. The vessel hung at the system’s nadir point, awaiting the go order as the timer counted down. In anticipation of the realignment of the Shady Palms section of the Exodus Road, the Falcons had been dropping HPG buoys as they moved through and past the Mica Majority on their way to the Federated Suns. This ensured that the fleet could remain in contact with the rest of the Clans and now be ready to hear the ilKhan’s go order in real time.
Arrayed about the SLS
Raven’s Gift were the CJF
Emerald Talon and
Janice Hazen, and several JumpShips carrying the Turkina Keshik, 1st Falcon Guards, and the garrison and support forces of the Falcon’s Vau Galaxy. The assault was expecting WarShips in orbit, but there was no indication of how many, though they were anticipated to be some of the Sun’s numerous
Davion-class destroyers. No match for a Clan battleship on their own, the FSN destroyers if well handled could be a threat to the Raven’s Gift. On the ground, the Clans expected to face House Davion’s 1st Federated Suns Light Cavalry Regimental Combat Team, as well as eight regiments of militia forces. Seventeen regiments of defenders all told, against three Clusters of Clan forces. Amanda trembled a little with anticipation. This would be a hard early fight with numerous opportunities for glory, and she was eager to face the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns.
The spinning ilKhan’s golden dagger star in the holo tank flashed momentarily, and then the figure of ilKhan Kimball N’Buta, resplendent in the dress uniform of a General Officer of the Star League Defence Force, materialised before her.
The ilKhan waited a moment and then began his address. “
Trothkin! You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven for centuries in the darkness of the Deep Periphery. The eyes of the Founders and all those who carried your genes are upon you. Today is the culmination of a task that began as General Kerensky’s fleet jumped from New Samarkand two hundred and fifty years ago. Each of you carry with you part of the legacy of the Star League, and you will bear it on to Terra freeing the oppressed peoples of the Inner Sphere of the tyrannical yoke of the depraved Lords of the Great Houses. It was Kurita who refused to aid Kerensky, and Davion who conspired to place himself on the Star Throne and forget not that the Alliance worked with the Usurper against the Star League. Today is the day of retribution for those and countless other crimes at the hands of those who rightfully bear the banner of the League of old.”
Amanda’s heart raced at the words of the ilKhan, and her mind was swept up in visions of marching to Terra and standing in Unity City and the Court of the Star League.
“Go forth now, fight with honour, fight for glory and point your eyes towards Terra and the future that all of humankind begs for.”
“Fight for your legacy, your Bloodhouse, your Clan and the Star League.”
“We bring salvation through the power of our forces and our right to Terra!”
“As ilKhan. I order all assault forces to initiate Operation REVIVAL!”
Amanda’s thoughts were soaring as the jump alarm sounded and then the Raven’s
Gift jumped the twenty-nine light years to Anjin Muerto, the jump timed perfectly with the end of the ilKhan’s speech for exactly midnight, Terran Standard Time.
There was the usual chatter on the bridge as the small fleet materialised at a pirate point close to the planet, as Technicians called out contacts and the ship came to battle stations.
“This is Khan Yvonne Hazen, and I address the defenders of Anjin Muerto. We are Jade Falcon, great among the Clans. We are warriors who fight with the strength of the falcon's claw and ascend to the heavens on the wings of the same. We remember with the clarity of falcon sight the words of Kerensky. Through the smoke of time he speaks to us, his chosen, and urges us onward with the promise of Eden. We will retake what is ours by right: that shining jewel Terra. Not the vastness of space, nor the obstinate howls of those who threw down the Star Lague will stay us from our righteous goal. We are Crusaders and will trample all who stand in our way. Who defends this world and with what forces will you protect it?”
The Falcon Khan’s words rang out across the bridge and for a moment there was silence, then the speaker came to life. “This is Rear-Admiral Margery Semenyuk of the Federated Suns Navy. Stand your vessels down or prepared to be fired upon.”
“Star Commodore, the transmission is emanating from the two destroyers coming around the planet at us, range of three hundred and twenty-seven thousand kilometres.”
“I see them.” Said the Star Commodore. “Star Colonel, I would suggest preparing to launch your Cluster, we may need to engage those ships.”
“Of course, Star Commodore, glory to your ship and you.”
“And you Star Colonel.”
It did not take Amanda long to reach her Mech in the
Overlord-class DropShip
Shandra Noruff. By the time she plugged back in, Khan Hazen was growling at the Admiral who had spoken before and someone from the planet to declare what forces they would defend the world with. The answer received was less than honourable; “Come and find out for yourself. We don’t barter with pirates,” before the Falcon Khan cut off the transmission.
“This is Falcon One, all DropShips detach and form up for an opposed drop, the defenders of this world are not honouring batchall.
Janice Hazen and
Raven’s Gift are to engage the enemy destroyers, and
Emerald Talon is to escort the ground forces. Drop zones for each Cluster will be transmitted in fifteen.”
Amanda felt the DropShip shudder as it broke away from the
Raven’s Gift and then was shoved back in her seat as it poured on maximum power. The assault on the Inner Sphere had commenced.
<<<<<<<<<<<–>>>>>>>>>>>
From Hofn in Jàrnfòlk territory to Rentz in the Federated Suns, fifty-five Clusters and fifty WarShips appeared in forty-eight systems immediately after 12am Terran Standard Time on 1 January, 3035, emerging from the Deep Periphery with no warning. In some systems, like Anjin Muerto and Zumbo, there were significant defences, but in most there was little to oppose the return of Kerensky’s children beyond planetary militia.
The invasion of the Inner Sphere had begun, and the first wave of Operation REVIVAL was poised to deliver a brutal shock to nations that had been looking inwards to Terra or at each other as the major threats. None realised that the most dangerous threat of all was emerging from the depths of history.
